Witch
Summary: After training, Natasha notices something on Wanda's back and confronts her about it.
Natasha only noticed it after a training session. It'd been a fairly good one and Wanda (the Avenger's newest recruit) was making a lot of progress in her fighting. Even without her powers.
She'd gone from fighting with emotion and carelessness to almost as coordinated and skilled as Natasha, herself.
She and Wanda were now fairly close, being the only women a part the Avengers. They spent a lot of their free time together when they weren't training.
It was Natasha who first suggested taking Wanda shopping to get some clothes as the woman didn't have a single item in her possession, let alone clothes to wear that weren't already on her back.
She also offered to train Wanda when she realised that she wasn't as skilled as she'd seemed during their first meeting or the fight against Ultron.
But in all their training sessions and the moments after where they showered and changed back into more comfortable clothes in the changing room, Natasha had never noticed what she was staring at now.
She hadn't meant to turn around and look at Wanda, she'd simply been reaching for a towel so she could go and shower. However, she was almost glad she had as she saw the word 'WITCH' burned into Wanda's back.
The sight of it made Natasha slightly sick.
The other woman hadn't noticed her staring yet as she remained facing away from Natasha and tossed her tank top aside to reach for a hoodie.
"What's that?" Natasha couldn't help but ask.
Wanda turned around as she pulled her hoodie on.
"What's what?" She replied.
Her accent was still thick, but Natasha had been helping her hide it for future missions. It wouldn't be good if somebody recognised it and their cover was blown.
"That mark on your back? Was that a brand?" Natasha pointed at her though she already had her hoodie on.
Wanda froze, staring at Natasha. Her lips were parted slightly in surprise.
Finally, she seemed to come back to life as she turned away to grab her clothes and leave.
"No," she said as she did so, gathering her things.
She pulled her hair tie out of her hair and shook it out. It fell around her face, covering her eyes before she brushed it away.
Then she began to leave but Natasha was quick and she grabbed her wrist. Wanda's eyes and hands flashed scarlet in warning as she pulled her wrist out of Natasha's grasp. But she didn't leave.
Slowly, as Natasha held up her hands and told her she meant no harm, her powers fizzled out and they stared at each other. Natasha slowly lowered her hands.
"You know you can tell me anything, right?" Natasha asked Wanda.
Wanda nodded slightly, but didn't say a word. Her jaw was clenched tightly.
"Where did you get that mark? Who did it?"
Wanda sighed and looked away.
"It was when I was with HYDRA," she revealed.
If Natasha hadn't already hated HYDRA, she would have now. Her chest burned with anger and rage on Wanda's behalf.
"When I received my powers, there were many who celebrated the success. There were a few, though, who didn't feel the same," Wanda continued.
"And they did that to you?" Natasha guessed.
"Two. There who two who hated me and my powers so much that they wanted to make me hurt. They branded me as a witch because they were afraid of my powers."
"Wanda, I'm so sorry," Natasha sighed, "that must have been horrible. You didn't deserve that."
Wanda shrugged.
"There is nothing I can do to change what happened," she said a little shakily. Natasha watched her throat bob as she swallowed.
"That doesn't change the fact that when I find the pair of assholes who did this to you, they're going to wish they were never born," Natasha pulled Wanda in for a hug, and squeezed her tight.
Wanda chuckled as she returned the hug.
"Thank you, Nat, but they are already dead," she muttered against Natasha's shoulder.
"Did you...?"
"No. Strucker had them killed for what they did."
"Good. If he hadn't already, I would have done it myself."
"Thank you."